Category Archives: Social Media
Links of the Week 27 August 2010
Top Five
Mosque Demagoguery Is Bipartisan
Fiske Names Spelman College a 2011 ‘Best Buy’ School
A Different Way of Ranking Colleges
Armstrong Williams Misleads as He Cheers on GOP Women
Women & Politics
Eleitores de Dilma estão mais decididos sobre voto, mostra Datafolha
Small Business Bill Cannot Wait – Voice Your Support, This Bill MUST Pass!
Women & Girls
Breaking the Model Mold: Australia’s Samantha Harris
Trabajadoras domésticas inmigrantes en EU son blanco fácil de los abusos
Politics
One Liberal Voice Dares to Say, Cut the Budget
Putting Voters in the Driver’s Seat in 2010
PIMW (Public & Independent Media Watch)
We Are Sean Bell, Way Down in the Hole, and Sharon Jasper
International
Why is Pakistan Being Left Behind
Other
Links of the Week 5 June 2009
Top Five
Biden’s staff shoulders task of steering committee
Death to All Black TV Shows (Except the Ones Made By Tyler Perry)
It is really sad that as the diversity of the United States is growing the diversity of network television is decreasing. We as citizens should not have to go to BET (my issues with this network I will save for another day) to see shows with “black folks” or go to Univision to see shows with “latinos.” To all the political pundits and people that claimed racism/race issues in the United States died with the election of President Obama, this story is only part of my argument that counter those statements.
Obama May Need to Show ID in More Places Than East Harlem
This is a good article discussing how Obama’s election has not stopped the negative perceptions of Black males in this country.
Update on Recovery Act Lobbying Rules
Men Follow Men and Nobody Tweets
The Harvard Business School did a study about men, women and Twitter.
Politico
Barack Obama Still Courting Pennsylvania
Obama Rewards Donors with Plum Posts Abroad
Did Regan Cause the 2008 Crisis?
Quote of the Week
“According to the United Nations Population Fund, three fifths of the world’s one billion poorest people are women and girls. Of the nearly 1 billion adults in the world who cannot read, two thirds are women.” From Wal-Mart Foundation and CARE Team Up to Empower Young Women Around the World. Not the biggest fan of Wal-Mart but I am glad that they are doing some good through their foundation.
Photo of the Week
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with other Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Americas.
From Clinton abandona la Asemblea de la OEA y asegura que no hay consenso sobre Cuba. Photo credit goes to AP/Clave Digital.
Health
Meat: the Slavery of our Time
This Foreign Policy article discusses how eating meat will become obsolete in the future.
10 Easy Ways to Eat Natural
Besides the negative comment about co-ops…I love co-ops, there are some good tips in this article.
Health Risks of Too Little Sleep
As a first year graduate student this past school year…I definitely saw the health risks of too little sleep.
6 Alternatives to 87,000 Slices of Bread
There is a video in this article that you have to check out.
International
Somali Bantus gain Tanzanian citizenship in their ancestral land
An Online Atlas of the Millennium Development Goals
A very interesting look at the world’s progress towards the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. There are interactive maps for each of the goals…just wish I could print or save the maps.
North Korea’s Next Kim: Dad’s Favorite, Kim Jong Un
Sports
WNBA Team’s Jersey Sponsorship Could Set The Standard
Spalding iHoop
This is a bit much…but will probably be seen on future episodes of MTV Cribs though…sigh.
Links of the Week 27 February 2009
Top Five
(In Order)
Jamie Lee Curtis: A Fish Called Denial
Mike Allen now a Twitter hitter
I guess I’m not the only one on this bandwagon now 
Twitter…so far so good. Facebook watch out!
Obama: ‘Nobody messes with Joe’
Go Joe!!!! Don’t mess with Delaware
Biden convenes first stimulus oversight meeting
Politico
Open Letter to the New York Post
10 most influential D.C. Twitterers
First Lady Obama’s Official Portrait
Going Green
BEing Green: Putting Your Old PC to Use
World
Nomboniso Gasa
She is one of several people participating in a fast to bring attention to what is going on in Zimbabwe.
Civil unrest caused by a recession ‘a major worry’
Other
‘The District’ Ep 4 ‘Team Barack World Tour’
Geoffery Dunn: Palin’s Evangelical Base Slaps Down on Bristol
La democracia llega a Facebook
The View From Here: Updates From the Host of Meet The Press
Found this link on Twitter. It is interesting to see what the people that report the news read in their free time.
India Media Hails Oscar glories
Analysis: Celtics gamble in bid to shore up depth
Oldies But Goodies
What Obama wishes he could say
Links of the Week 20 February 2009
Top Five
(In Order)
Facebook: All your contents belong to us. FOREVER!
I have a Facebook account but after this I may have to get serious about leaving the site. I’ve said this a lot in the last two years with all of the changes they are making but this may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Vegan Soul Kitchen
So I found this after looking at a few articles and it comes out in early March. I’m really excited about this…I plan on ordering a copy. Hopefully, I can add some new great recipes to what I already have.
Tracy Flicks
The new generation of women in politics…watch out.
Nation’s Blacks Creeped Out By All the People Smiling At Them
This link is from the Onion so its not real but still a funny article.
Green Ranking of the Banks
Surprise surprise my Bank, Bank of America, is at the bottom. I so am on a plan to get rid of them! How does your bank do?
Politico
The Scoop Factory
An interesting article about the rise and continuing stamina of The Politico.
‘The District’ Ep 3 ‘They’re Just Not That Into Me’
This is my new favorite “show” for real and considering I’m giving up TV for Lent next week…it may be the only video that I watch for the next 40 days or so I just wish these things were longer than 3 minutes. So watch this so Newsweek and make this a regular thing!
Health
10 Best Foods for Your Heart
World
Nothing But Nets and Union of Reform Judaism Help Save Lives in Kenya
Other
Disney adds African-American Princess Tiana to royal family
Oldies But Goodies
Living “One Day at a Time” in the Economic Crisis: The New Face of America’s Middle Class
Links of the Week 13 February 2009
Top Five
(In Order)
MLK Oratory Winner: Gerra Gistand
This little girl did such a great job!!!! I almost cried she was that good.
‘The District’ Ep2 ‘Barack’s Friends Let Him Down’
This is my new favorite show It’s better than The City and shows just how much of a political junkie I am besides…wouldn’t it be cool if the President really did a reality show? Unfortunately there’s national security to think about :{
My Industry is Hemorrhaging: Journalism layoffs Eat away at the watchdog of Democracy
GreenSpace: She Wants to Say 2 Words: No Plastics
Give Unsafe Lipstick the Kiss Off
Politico
Carper Gets Busy on Finance Panel
Cornyn: Pitch big tent to win back Senate
Alabama Could Elect First Black Governor
GOP Sees Positives in Going Negative
Economy
15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009
World
Iran panel explores link between rights, nukes
Health/Environment
5 Quick Fiber Fixes
The Skinny on Celebrity Weight Gain
Other
Why Men Secretly Love Being Married
Chris Brown’s Alleged Assault Charges Could Cost Him His Endorsement Deals
I normally don’t post these types of articles but I was in such shock that I decided to post this.
Steve Harvey: What Men Really Think
Facebook paid up to $65m to founder Mark Zuckerberg’s ex-classmates
Oldies but Goodies
‘The District’ Ep 1 ‘The Challenges We Face’
Links of the Week 6 February 2009
(I had a brief hiatus in December/early January due to school work. I hope that I will be getting back to a more normal posting schedule. Please note even when I am not posting check the DNMP’s Posted Items box on the right side of my blog to see what I am reading when I am not posting)
Top Five
Bank of America: Help Your Workers or Give Back the Bailout!
I normally don’t forward petitions but I have been so dissatisfied with Bank of America since they took over MBNA forcing me to become their customer that I had to share.
Steele becomes first African-American RNC Chairman
I wish Steele the best though I do think he was picked in part to make the party seem more open than it is after some of the racist events that occurred during the 2008 election cycle.
Facebook offers up users as marketing tool
Politico
Blagojevich’s name, image removed from state Capitol
New ‘senior’ senator relishes new role
Federal stimulus bill contains too much fat, little oversight
What Steele Means for the GOP
What Should be Done About Political Feigning?
Environment/Health
Eating Dirt, Embracing Germs
Gimmie 5
The Preserve Company who makes toothbrushes, cutting boards, plastic ware and more all from recycled plastic has started a new program to help people across the country recylce their Number 5 plastics. Click the link to learn more and see if there is a drop off location near year…don’t worry if there is not one near you there are instructions on how you can mail your number 5s to Preserve.
Healthy Homemade Fritos
The inventor of Fritos was a vegetarian…cool
Is the Recession Affecting Your Health?
A nice article that looks to the bright side of this recession.
Are You Wasting Electricity? Probably More Than You Think
World
Bill and Melinda Gates Urge Global Leaders to Maintain Foreign Aid
World Economic Forum Gives Adolescent Girls a Voice on the Global Stage
Other
Miriam Archibong, C’2009, Chosen to Participate in BBC Documentary
Google’s Street View camera car hits a baby deer
Glossary of U.S. Educational Terms
You never stop learning…word of the week ABD. Click the link to find out what it means.
HBCUs Ranking & HBCU Ranking Methodology
US News and World Report recently released its college rankings. My alma mater was listed as the top HBCU However with any report of this kind its important to look at the methodology to see how things were ranked, which is why I have listed both links. Spelman is also number 77 of Liberal Arts Colleges and I believe remains the only HBCU in the top 100.
Oldies But Goodies
With McNabb and Reid back, what changes will Eagles make?
I’m new to following football so I don’t have many suggestions but man oh man I hope the Eagles can get back to the Super Bowl. Ok one suggestion – figure out how to win the games that count. They did it with the Cowboys to get the wild card but they didn’t against AZ nor did they 4 years ago when they played NE in the Super Bowl.
Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
Well the Corn Lobby said that HFCS was all natural and Mercury is natural…
Links of the Week 6 February 2009
(I had a brief hiatus in December/early January due to school work. I hope that I will be getting back to a more normal posting schedule. Please note even when I am not posting check the DNMP’s Posted Items box on the right side of my blog to see what I am reading when I am not posting)
Top Five
Bank of America: Help Your Workers or Give Back the Bailout!
I normally don’t forward petitions but I have been so dissatisfied with Bank of America since they took over MBNA forcing me to become their customer that I had to share.
Steele becomes first African-American RNC Chairman
I wish Steele the best though I do think he was picked in part to make the party seem more open than it is after some of the racist events that occurred during the 2008 election cycle.
Facebook offers up users as marketing tool
Politico
Blagojevich’s name, image removed from state Capitol
New ‘senior’ senator relishes new role
Federal stimulus bill contains too much fat, little oversight
What Steele Means for the GOP
What Should be Done About Political Feigning?
Environment/Health
Eating Dirt, Embracing Germs
Gimmie 5
The Preserve Company who makes toothbrushes, cutting boards, plastic ware and more all from recycled plastic has started a new program to help people across the country recylce their Number 5 plastics. Click the link to learn more and see if there is a drop off location near year…don’t worry if there is not one near you there are instructions on how you can mail your number 5s to Preserve.
Healthy Homemade Fritos
The inventor of Fritos was a vegetarian…cool
Is the Recession Affecting Your Health?
A nice article that looks to the bright side of this recession.
Are You Wasting Electricity? Probably More Than You Think
World
Bill and Melinda Gates Urge Global Leaders to Maintain Foreign Aid
World Economic Forum Gives Adolescent Girls a Voice on the Global Stage
Other
Miriam Archibong, C’2009, Chosen to Participate in BBC Documentary
Google’s Street View camera car hits a baby deer
Glossary of U.S. Educational Terms
You never stop learning…word of the week ABD. Click the link to find out what it means.
HBCUs Ranking & HBCU Ranking Methodology
US News and World Report recently released its college rankings. My alma mater was listed as the top HBCU However with any report of this kind its important to look at the methodology to see how things were ranked, which is why I have listed both links. Spelman is also number 77 of Liberal Arts Colleges and I believe remains the only HBCU in the top 100.
Oldies But Goodies
With McNabb and Reid back, what changes will Eagles make?
I’m new to following football so I don’t have many suggestions but man oh man I hope the Eagles can get back to the Super Bowl. Ok one suggestion – figure out how to win the games that count. They did it with the Cowboys to get the wild card but they didn’t against AZ nor did they 4 years ago when they played NE in the Super Bowl.
Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
Well the Corn Lobby said that HFCS was all natural and Mercury is natural…
Links of the Week 21 January 2009 – The Purple Gate Edition
My Tunnel of Doom Story
I woke up at 4am that morning and my friend and I left her mom’s house at 5am. When we got to the metro stop there was a line to get into the parking deck, maybe that should have been my first sign of what was to come. We were on a train by 5.30am and we made it to Judiciary Square by 6am. The spirit in the station was AMAZING. Everyone was so excited about the upcoming day in history, we even sang a cheer while waiting to get up the metro escalators. Once we reached street level, we looked around at some vendors, knowing we would have no time after the swearing in, and we made it to our spot in line by 6.30am. As we walked by the two police officers that checked our tickets before letting us down, what I now know is the 395 tunnel, I thought that we would probably go 200 or 300 yards to get to the end of the line. Well I was WRONG. We walked a good quarter mile to get to the end of the line and we could see the highway exit sign for the Senate from a distance.
My friend and I became friendly with our neighbors and got comfortable as we knew we had some time before the gates would open and our line would move. While waiting in line we talked about how we got here, about the police cars who would come up on either side of the line and more (I think we saw some famous ABC news anchor being escorted through the tunnel in a van). We also talked about the large numbers of people coming down the tunnel and guessed how long the line proceeded down 395 going towards VA. Everything seemed fine to us until about 9.00 am or so. We started wondering why our line was not moving as much as we would have thought. We also wondered why the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) was opening the gates so late (My friend and I were in Denver and remembered that the Democratic Party had the gates open to Invesco field for about 4 hours before Obama’s acceptance speech and that was for only 70,000 people compared to 220,000 Inaugural ticket holders). It was also around this time that we got concerned about the number of people in the tunnel and we may have also noticed that people were coming in from the larger North end entrance to the tunnel (we were let in off of the US Capitol exit of 395). We thought there was no way that this many people had purple tickets, especially since the Silver section was the largest ticketed section. There was also friendly hostility from the crowd about line butters and those who were leaving the line, we were for it because we felt that there are people that have been here since before 6am. They deserve to get in before us because they took the time to get in line and it was unfair for people that came down the tunnel after 8am to think they can just cut in line. However, after a few crowd defenses of their areas of the line I started to think, “what would happen if a ‘line butter’ got the wrong person upset and someone threw a punch? That would be utter chaos in this tunnel.” It was around the time that I had that thought that I decided to call 911. (When I lived in Silver Spring, MD I found an older woman wondering around the streets — I assumed she had Dementia or Alzheimer — so I called 911 to tell the police about her. It worked then so I decided that it would work again). While on the phone I told the operator that there were a bunch of people in the 395 tunnel waiting in line for the purple section and suggested that she advise someone to send police to the tunnel for crowd control (The only cops I saw after walking down into the tunnel around 6.30am were the cops in the cars traveling through the tunnel to go wherever they were going). The call was placed at 9.57am. By 10.30am we got really excited because we finally made it out of the tunnel and we continued to walk the line now on street level. However, this is when things really got crazy. As we were walking we heard that the purple gate was closed due to a security breech. My heart sank…shortly before calling 911 I texted some friends who were in other sections to ask them if they knew of anything going on above ground but all they told me was that it was rumored that someone had a stroke on the mall. FINALLY we get to the purple gate area but the mob scene I saw was worse than what was going on in the tunnel. Unfortunately, it was confirmed that indeed the purple gate was closed…this is when my friend and I started to get creative. “Was there another way in? How can we get out of this situation safely?” We ended up climbing a small (I repeat small) fence. There were two cops near by up a set of stairs and they said nothing as they saw a group of about 20 people including myself hop this fence. We go around a corner and we see an entrance. “Yeah…finally we can get in!” Well…so close yet so far. We had come across an entrance to the parade area 
We decided after being in that section for about 10 minutes that we should try and go back to the purple gate area. Upon arrival in front of the gate we start getting updates from those around us. Basically, the purple gate closed (pretty early from what was said) and now there was a group trying to get the gate re-opened. By this point the program had started and you could see folks spirits becoming low. Many people traveled from a distance, my friend lives in CA, and could not get in. I was lucky I was able to crash with friends because I used to live in the area but I could only imagine paying WAY too much for a hotel room and not getting to see the event. There was a guy nearby with TV on his cell phone so I was able to hear the invocation by Rick Warren. I have to say he did a good job. All I wanted that day was to have a view or a glimpse of history. All I wanted to see was Joe sworn in (officially VP Biden – I call him Joe in informal situations because he was my Senator). All I saw was chaos. When the cannons went off signally that the President was sworn in I was really sad. I worked hard on the campaign trail and I did the right thing and got on my Congressional Members lists for inaugural tickets and I was not allowed in due to poor organization. I do not know Senator Feinstein nor those who were on the PIC committee but I wonder who did they consult with about the planning of the event? Did they learn anything from the concert three days before hand?
Did they contact someone from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) about how they dealt with the crowds at Obama’s acceptance speech? Did they ask the DNC people what went right at Invesco, what went wrong and what would you suggest so the same is not repeated at the inauguration? Did they ask the opinions of other groups who have had similar events on the mall – the Million Man March for example? If they did not I wish they would have because I think a lot of the problems could have been avoided if they just would have asked. My final question is this: why did none of the policy officers have any information about what was going on that day? To close I would like to thank those of the armed services that served that day. As I was walking to Union Station to go home I ran into a group of gentlemen who were directing the crowd and traffic. THEY did an excellent job and should be commended for their work.
For the few days after the swearing-in I was sad because I missed it. I was torn inside because I knew I was happy for President Obama but I was mad that I did not see him get sworn in first hand especially since I was there. In the two weeks since, I have reminded myself that everything happens for a reason and hopefully that the recent events with the Purple Tunnel of Doom Facebook Group highlights that – I do hope that the PIC and the JCCIC learn from their mistakes and prevent this type of thing from happening again. Lastly, I have to say many who were affected have asked for some type of monetary or event compensation to occur for their loss but for me, I don’t want it. There is no money in the world that will bring back that moment nor any new event that will replace the one I missed. The only compensation I want is for those in charge of security and logistics to be held responsible for their actions or lack there of on that day.
Purple Gate News stories
Survivors of the Purple Tunnel of Doom
The Facebook group that has been made infamous…and to think it started as a joke.
Out in the cold: Lawmakers get earful on Inaugural disasters
Inauguration Mystery: What caused the Mayhem on The Mall?
Senator Feinstein Issues Statement Following Meeting with Inauguration Officials
Inaugural Committee Apologizes for Ticket Fiasco
The real story is in the comments section of this article. I learned a lot myself and I was there.
Congress’s Top Security Officer Admits Inaugural Security Breach
Obama Administration
Obama Orders Guantanamo Closure
Video
Obama- Whatever I Like
Beyonce – Single Ladies Spoof (Barack Obama)
This won’t be the first song for the first dance, but…
